How does mortgage interest actually work?

Short answer: Interest is the cost of borrowing. Calculated daily on remaining balance. Early payments are mostly interest.

What this actually means in plain English

When you borrow money for a house, the bank charges interest. Interest is the cost of borrowing. It is calculated daily on your remaining loan balance. Early in your mortgage, most of your payment goes to interest, not the loan itself. Later, more goes to the loan. This is called amortization.

Key Facts

Example

Loan Amount: $500,000

Interest Rate: 7.0%

Monthly Payment: $3,327

First Month Interest: $2,917

First Month Principal: $410

Interest Ratio: 87.6% of first payment is interest

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